Public Holidays Around the World

This guide includes active national date records explicitly marked as public holidays. It excludes school term breaks, purely regional dates from the national totals, and observances that do not carry public-holiday status in the underlying calendar.

Public-holiday systems vary substantially. Some establish paid absence or a right to refuse work, while others primarily govern public administration. Federal countries may add state, province, canton or territory dates, and weekend substitution must be supported by the applicable rule rather than inferred.

Fixed civic anniversaries can be planned well in advance, but lunar holidays and annually proclaimed dates may remain projected. Status labels distinguish confirmed records from estimates and announcement-dependent entries.

Employers should check the employee’s work location, employment instrument, ordinary hours and any rule governing work or substitution on the date. A public holiday does not prove that every office or essential service closes.

Public holidays can affect branch service and settlement timetables without making every date a bank holiday. Institution notices remain important for payment cut-offs and cross-border transactions.

Schools often close on public holidays, but academic calendars also contain separate term breaks and local dates. Use the responsible education authority for complete school schedules.

Transport, border, retail and visitor-service hours can change around public holidays. Check local and regional calendars as well as the national list before relying on a closure or substitute day.